Follow the Yellow Brick Road ... to Queensland

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Electronic Arts announces new development studio: EA Studio OZ.

By IGN Staff

Electronic Arts used the recent Australian Games Developer Conference to make the first public announcements of their newest development studios, EA Studio OZ. Steve Dauterman, former LucasArts Director of Development, is heading up the new studio and was very enthusiastic in his address about the prospects for the new EA studio and the Australian industry at large.

The goals for EA Studio OZ are to develop an Australian based studio that is producing one or two internally developed titles and managing three or four external titles as a publisher. Dauterman outlined the titles currently under the EA Studio OZ roof without giving away much in terms of their actual content.

EA Studio OZ are currently managing:

A Rugby title in development for PC and Playstation

A Cricket title in development for PC and Playstation

Shogun - A RTS game set in feudal Japan that is 'looking very interesting'

After outlining these current projects being managed from Australia, Dauterman stressed that EA Studio OZ wanted to do a lot more than sports titles. "EA's aim is to expand into more innovative titles," said Dauterman, citing adventure games like Grim Fandango and Monkey Island as the type of innovative games the studio will be aiming to produce.

An obvious question to EA's plans is why set up such a studio in Australia? Dauterman had a number of reasons as to why this strategic move had been made. He acknowledged Australia has a large talent base that is for the most part untapped with many individuals currently either venturing overseas or into other industries. Cost is also an obviously important factor in the decision, with Australian costs roughly two thirds that of making a game in England or the US. This mainly stems from the much higher costs of living and the salaries that are needed to support these costs. Australia also represents a great opportunity to better understand and capitalize on the opportunities of the emerging markets of South East Asia. Particular mention was made of the largely ignored Korean market that has consumed a massive number of units of PC games such as StarCraft. The decision to establish the studio on Queensland's Gold Coast seems to have been an easy part of the move to Australia. The relaxed, creative lifestyle solidified the decision. [Ed Note: And we're sure the weather and beaches didn't hurt, either. Need any more game journalists over there?] It is interesting to note a number of game developers are beginning to pop up in Queensland.

Dauterman foreshadowed what we can expect of future EA Studio OZ developed titles, with a description of the signature he hopes to impart on each game. Again he stressed there will be much more than just sport titles with character driven games with a unique graphical look, and Grim Fandango was raised as an example once more.

Actually producing the games will require building a strong development team, and EA will be looking to recruit local talent as much as possible. A good source identified by Dauterman are the University courses in Digital Art and Game Design offered both in Queensland and Canberra. He believes it will take some time for the local talent pool to develop more experience, and there will be a selection of international talent to add some experience to the team, which is likely to grow to 20-30 people by the end of 2000. If all goes well, in two to four years the studio should swell to nearly 100 staff members.

The start of EA Studio OZ is significant in terms of the Australian games industry at large, with a huge worldwide gaming power throwing its support behind the local industry's potential. The move to choose a managing director with the background of Dauterman also shows a willingness to explore some more innovative directions. The bottom line, of course, remains that EA Studio OZ must be a viable concern so it is with much interest that we await the first glimpse of what the new development house can produce.